Square attachment



Jan. 2, 1962 H. M. CUMMINGS 3,015,163

SQUARE ATTACHMENT Filed May 12, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lllllllllll lllll| 3\/ //3 I? 7F T 1 I 34 3 28 3O 24 25 22 Hugh M. Cummings INVENTOR.

Jan. 2, 1962 H. M. CUMMINGS 3,015,153

SQUARE ATTACHMENT Filed May 12, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IS l6 l1 l8 I9 20 2| 22 23 R155 PER I Run Hugh M. Cummings 1N VEN TOR.

BY 2mm WWW United States Patent ice 3,015,153 7 SQUARE ATTACHNIENT Hugh M. Cummings, R.R.'3, Lakewood Drive,

7 s 1 Filed May 12, 1958, Set. No. 734,661

3 Claims. (Cl. 33-94) This invert-edit relates generally toa carpenterfs -aid and more par ticul-arly to a carpenters square attachment par- :ticul" y designed and intended to eliminatefcer'tain square and 'to automatically give ,c orr'ee bevel cuts for valleyjack rafters and also forhip and valley rafthip and n y In the "cutting 'of rafters j'to the proper size, the carter must frequently 'utili'ze 'cdmplex tables to pardental-n9 determine the proper angle of cut. That is, in idrde'rito determine the correct bevel 'cut for a particular type rafter, he must determine the pitch of the structure which is determined from a consideration of the rise per run. I

V The prior art reveals innumerable 'c'arpenters aids for use with a 'c ar'p'ente'rs squ re. Nearly all of these 'aids are to provide additional rafter cuts for each particular "setting. It is likewise the primary object of this invention to provide a "novel and improved automatic bevel squareaaaehm'eht for indicating additional correct bevel "cfifs fofpai'ticular type ra fte f s.

It is ri1ore particularly at dbject ,o fjthis invention to "ia'c 'rpdrats with a'earpeiite'rs'isquare automatic bevel attachment which features m'eans tar compensating 'for a change 'in settin'gs.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel and improved autoniaticbevel square attachment which is more 'cificient and competitively priced relati ve to prior'art devices.

In accdrdanee with "the above stated objects, below is described "in particularly acai-penfe'r s square attachment including a pair of spaced elongated members adapted to be adjustably carried by "the'squa're. The elongated members are bothslidably and angularly adjustable relative to the square'andmay beset according -to the desired pitch structure. The elongated members carry a pivotally connected-first arm having a second 'armte'r'minally and pivbtally connected thereto. The second arm has a pin on the eud thereof which is adapted to slide in a prescribed .arcuat slot in the elongated members. By holding the first arm adjacent the tongue or body of the square and adjusting the elongated members for a prescribed pitch relative to the square, the second arm will travel a predetermined path in the arcuate slot and necessarily define a proper angle cut for a particular pitch setting. The elongated members may be locked relative to the square and a considerable number of proper separate cuts will automatically be given for each individual square setting.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational plan view of a conventional square and the square attachment comprising this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational side view of the square and square attachment;

FIGURE 3 is a conventional diagram illustrating the conventional method of computing pitch;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of a single elongated member comprising a portion of this invention;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of a second elongated member comprising a portion of this invention;

Paras-tee Jan. 2, 1'96;

FIGURE 6 illustrates a manner in which gi -emirates may be carried by one of 'the elongated hieihbiers; v

FIGURE 7 is a "sectional view taken'subs'tantiallyfalong the plane 7- 7 of FIGURE 1; 1 v L I V FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken 's'ubstantially'along theplane 8 8 of FIGURE 1; I q I FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane 9-9 of FIGURE 1; and g Y w FIGURE '10 is a sectional view taken substantially alongthe pla'ne -10'10'of FIGURE 1.

With continuing reference to the drawings, and 'i'ni'tia'l reference to FIGURE 3, a series of ray line's-1Q exte d from points along the tongue 12 to the body 1"4.'o'f 'a conventional carpenters square generally-designated I6. The graduated indicia along the tongue l2 generally represent the rise, that is, the vertical distance from the plate to the ridge of a conventional roof frame. The graduated indicia along the body may represent the run, that is, the shortest horizontal distance from a 'plumb line "the rafter terminal to the plate. The pitch is the remade or the rise to the width of the building. The 'width-"df'th e building is generally twice the run. Therefore, the indica on the tongue designated "as 3, we s'ii'eft'h'attlie ray line '10 is extended to graduated indicia 12 on the body 14. This would indicate a rise of'3"-per runof 12 or a rise of 3" for a 24" width. The =ratio=qf 3 to-24 would give'us a pitch for the structure. It willbe ndted that indicia indicating that the pitch is isindihted along the horizontal line extending to 'the'i'ight from the tongue 12. For particular pitches, it'isiniportant that "a carpenter be aware of the particular -bev'el 'cuts for the various rafters. -1-

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the convent-ionalssquare 16 is illustrated being utilized with the square attachment comprising this invention. The square attachment comprises a stock which includes a first elongated member-1'8 and a second elongated-member 20 which are spaed'froril each other by the square 16 in a sandwiching fashion, The first elongated member 18 includes-'a'first horizodtally slotted portion 22. 'A second slotted portion- 24--in'eludes a horizontal section 26 and an arcuate section,r28 communicating therewith. A notch 30 designates apointyof delineation between the horizontal section -26 and the arcuate section 28 for reasons described more particularly below. Apertures 32 and -34 are established in the elongated member 18. i

The second elongated member 20 likewise has a first slotted portion 36 which is substantially horizontal and a second slotted portion 38. The respective elongated members l8 and 20 are adapted to be aligned so that apertures 32 and 34 of member 18 are aligned with apertures 40 and 42 of member 20. Also, horizontal slotted portions 22 and 36 and horizontal section 26 and slotted portion 38 should be aligned. Adapted to pass through aligned apertures 32 and 40 is a bolt 44 which may be held in place by a wing nut 46. Pivotally supported from the bolt 44 is a first arm 50 which is shown in FIGURE 1 as having a serrated edge 52. The first arm 50 has an ear portion 53 which is constructed integral with the arm 50 and has an aperture therethrough for accommodating a rivet 54. A bar or second arm 56 having an ear 58 adapted to cooperate with the ear 52 also has an aperture adapted to pass rivet 54. It is therefore apparent that the second arm 56 is pivotally related to the first arm 50. The second arm 56 carries a pin 60 thereon which fits in arcuate slot 28 and is adapted to ride therein. The pin 60 has a threaded terminal portion which may be threadedly engaged with wing nut 62 for maintaining the pin in a fixed relationship relative to the arcuate slot 28. Bolt and wing nut combinations 64, 66, 68 are adapted to pass through aligned apertures 34 and 42, aligned slots 38 and 26, and 36 and 22 for selectively locking the elongated members 18 and 20 relative to the square 16.

--In' use, the elongated justed on the square as in FIGURE 1 for the desired pitch. The first arm 50 is maintained adjacent the tongue -12 (or it may be used adjacent the body 14). As the position of the elongated members18 and 20 is changed relative to the square 16, the second arm 56 is carried in a predescribed path by the movement of pin 60 in the arcuate slot 28. When the elongated members are set for the desired pitch, a plurality of rafter cuts are defined by various parts of the device. More particularly, the side of the square as shown-at 80 .indicates the plumb cut for a common rafter. The side 82 indicates the level out for a common rafter. To mark a jack rafter, for example, for a side out, the assembly is placed on an edge thereof with the lower member 20 paralleling said rafter and abutting one of the faces thereof. When the device is so positioned on the work, the arm or bar 56 extends diagonally across the rafter at the correst angle and said rafter is marked or scribed on the straight edge 84 of said bar. Still further, the

side 80 may be utilized to give a square bevel cut for studdings at gable ends, for, instance, when the piece of wood is turned edgewise. Still further, the side 82 would indicate a square level out for structural members coming in contact with the rafter or root on a horizontal or level line when the wood is placed edgewise. The notch 30 defines an extreme angle and is intended to set the bevel bar at 45 degrees. The closer terminal portion of the arcuate slot 31 designates a minimum angle of 15 degrees.

FIGURE 6 illustrates how the rear portion of the elongated member 20 may be utilized for the inscription of particularly desirable and important indicia. This additional indicating indicia is in addition to the various tables generally inscribed on the square 16. Though the attachment of this invention has been primarily designed to be used in connection with a carpenter's square having a 16" tongue and a 24" body, it of course may be utilized with any size square. Further, the attachment of this invention need not necessarily be manufactured as an attachment but may be constructed as a permanent part of a square.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be restored to, falling within the Scope of the invention as claimed.

members 18 and 20 are ad-.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A rafter marking attachment for a carpenters square comprising, a carpenters square, a stock slidably mounted diagonally on the square for angular adjustment, a pivoted arm on the stock paralleling an arm of the square slidably engaged longitudinally therewith for swinging adjustment in response to angular adjustment of the stock thereon, and an adjustable bar having an end pivotally and slidably connected to the stock and its other end pivotally connected to the first named arm for adjustment thereby in response to swinging movement thereof, said bar providing a straight-edge for marking the work. 7

2. A rafter marking attachment for a carpenters square comprising, a carpenters square, a stock mounted diagonally and slidably on the square for angular adjustment, a pivoted'arm on the stock paralleling an arm of the square and slidably engaged longitudinally therewith for swinging adjustment thereby in response to angular adjustment of the stock thereon, an adjustable bar having one end pivotally connected tov the free end portion of the second named arm, and means operatively connecting the other end of said bar tothe stock,

said bar providing an angularly adjustable straight-edge for marking a rafter.

3. A rafter marking attachment for a carpenter's square comprising, a carpenters square, a stock mounted diagonally and slidably on the square for angular adjustment, a pivoted arm on the stockparalleling an arm of the square and slidably engaged longitudinally therewith for swinging adjustment thereby in response to angular adjustment of the stock thereon, an adjustable bar having one end pivotally connected to the free end portion of the second named arm, and means operatively connecting the other end of said bar to the stock, said bar providing an angularly adjustable straight-edge for marking a rafter, said stock having a generally longitudinal Slot therein, said means including a bolt on said other end portion of said bar operable in the slot, and a nut threaded on the bolt and engageable with the stock for securing the bar in adjusted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 327,283 Levy Sept. 29, 1885 825,150 McCartney July 3, 1906 996,451 Bragg June 27, 1911 1,038,368 Hodge Sept. '10, 1912 2,131,279 Greve Sept. 27, 1938 

